The Research and Advocacy Intern for the Sex Workers Project of the Urban Justice Center will support either or both research and policy advocacy projects. This may include but is not limited to conducting rigorous evidence-based background research such as literature reviews to inform ongoing or proposed research projects, drafting policy briefs, and tracking proposed legislation and policies that impact sex workers, people profiled as sex workers, people trafficked in the sex trades or others involved in the sex trades.

Specific Job Duties may include:

• Developing materials including policy briefs and memos to assist in SWP research and advocacy priorities, including but not limited to:
  • Addressing financial discrimination against sex workers and access to online banking systems
  • Protecting freedom of expression and addressing censorship of adult content online
  • Preventing police and other law enforcement violence against sex workers and people profiled as sex workers
• Tracking local, state, and federal legislation and policies that impacts sex workers, for example district attorney prosecution policies, state decriminalization bills, and federal bills such as the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act
• Identifying current and upcoming international advocacy mechanisms for SWP engagement, such as the UN review of United States’ implementation of the Palermo Protocol
• Researching sex workers rights movement archival sources and history documentation.

Participation in SWP Staff Meetings is not a requirement, but interns are welcome to attend as their schedule allows.

Job Duties may change as organizational needs require and as agreed upon by the Director of Research and Advocacy.

Qualifications:

• Experience with issues impacting people in the sex trades
• Experience with issues of migration, human trafficking and gender justice
• Exceptional research, writing and advocacy skills
• Experience with grassroots and direct lobbying at the state and/or federal levels
• Familiarity with anti-oppression, human rights, trauma-informed and harm reduction principles and values

This is a non-staff position with the potential for a stipend determined on the length of the internship. For current university students (undergraduate and graduate), the individual policies of an academic institution may determine eligibility for a stipend.

The intern may work entirely remote or if DC-based, in-person as is safe and agreed upon with the Director of Research and Advocacy.

To apply please send a current resume (no more than 2 pages) and a cover letter overviewing your qualifications and reasons for interest in the internship opportunity. Send all materials to Mariah Grant, Director of Research and Advocacy at MGrant@urbanjustice.org.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with a start date beginning around each quarter (January, April, July, Oct). Due to the high volume of anticipated applications, we cannot respond unless selected for further consideration.

The Urban Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status, or marital status. People of color, LGBTIQ individuals, people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, migrants, and individuals who have personal experiences with poverty are encouraged to apply. People with experiences working in the sex trades, African/Black people, and/or transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.